Spoke to #MikePringle(@cfl all time leading rusher) about this play. He told me if this was a finable offense when he played. And I quote “not only would I have been playing for free, but I would have had to get a second job” # TrueStory #TyrellSuttonhttps://t.co/XcPBiK5QgG

Sutton was not penalized on the play, but the league fined him for delivering a blow with the crown of his helmet.

In May the CFL changed the definition of spearing to include any situation where a player delivers a blow with his helmet as the initial or primary point of contact. This does not apply to a low running ball carrier.

What a flipping joke. You can fine running backs for leveling DB’s who come in high for a tackle. Sometimes your the nail, something your the hammer. Bad call Commeesh … should be challenged and reversed.

Man, so it looks like the only running back possible in the CFL is some kind of scatback that avoids contact at all costs. What a ludicrous decision. One that could seriously turn the CFL into the equivalent of a flag football league.

Sure if you’re making a tackle. Did you play running back? I don’t know one who doesn’t lead with their head through a tight space or in open field. The DB got clocked because he was asleep at the wheel. Nothing more.

really a good call. lol. i see you know not a darn thing about football, its called run like hell n run over anything that is in front of youm btw the defended was coming from the side, its lucky that sutton saw him. because it would have been another head shot, i coached football for 13 years, n that play is a damn great play by a great running back.

BS call – running back needs to be able to protect himself by taking an inevitable hit on the crown of his helmet vs. the neck strain of a face hit. If the defender doesn’t want to get hit, don’t try tackle.
I’m all for taking blatant spearing out of the game but this is not spearing to inflict injury. This fine is ridiculous.

Shouldn’t be a fine, they claim he lead with the crown, when he didn’t. More BS reffing by the CFL. The CFL needs to clean up the officiating and get it more consistent. IF it was leading with the head why wasn’t it called on the field?

I don’t get it. Personally I would let this go and then you have to beg, kick and scream for Hebert to get anything. That jack*ss launches himself and his 220lbs head first at offensive players not seeing it coming. Sutton lowered his head on someone tracking him and well aware of where is was. I don’t get it and commish is sh*tting the bed big time in what seems every week and making a joke out of the CFL.

Watching the game live then seeing the fine I first thought what a BS call. Then rewatching it just now, he definitely lead with the crown of his helmet. You guys saying he didn’t please tell me what part of his body he made contact with. You really should take 20 seconds and rewatch the trucking before commenting. I guess this is what the CFL wants to get rid of.

So Sutton is supposed to keep his head up and leave himself vulnerable? That seems more dangerous to me. He was running straight forward and leaned into the contact that was coming. Not his fault the DB wasn’t prepared for contact.

It was a great run. he went after the defender as any rb is taught to do. However he lead with his helmet and that is a clear violation. Like it or not without a change to the brain injury epidemic there will soon be no football. This is the exact right move by the CFL and they should be commended for it.

One of my favorite similar hits of all time was when George Reed destroyed Grady Cavness (BD for BC) in much the same manner. Cavness had a reputation as a head hunter and a mouth piece. So George broke through the line backers and came onto Cavness. He could have swerved or danced around but George went straight at him, lower his pad level and absolutely flatten Canvess and stepped on his chest as he went on and by. It was awesome.

From what I saw Sutton saw he was about to be tackled so he initiated the contact with his chest and not his helmet. This has always been the norm for a good football play. As a receiver Rocky Depietro would rather run through a defensive back than around him. I have seen running backs give a straight arm to a defenders face mask and no penalty is called but if a defensive person gives one to an offensive person there is no hesitation in throwing a flag. I no this is in the name of safety but this is real football these players are playing and not flag football.

Smaller backs like Sweetness and big backs like Ironhead and Alstot all lowered the boom and would be penalized by this standard. Earl Campbell wouldn’t even half half his career totals. RBs actually protect themselves by lowering pads and initiating contact. Good god, I hope the league doesn’t keep this up.

I think some of you guys are missing the point. It wasnt just that he led with the helmet it is also the fact that he hit the defender in the head with the crown of his helmet. In slow motion you can see the contact and those are the types of plays they are reviewing. Just like Holley getting a penalty for a crackback block that was legal last year.

Just plain ridiculous!! Sutton merely dipped his head on the run and caught him with his forehead, not the crown. If the DB had have been coming in lower, like he should have been there would have been no contact at all.

Nothing at all like crack back blocks- anyone who has played or been arpound the game knows that a crack back or earhole/blindside block is nothing close to a ball carrier lowering his center of gravity and running over defenders. A crackback is illegal for a reason- dudes get hurt. Hines Ward rule- he put out three upcoming LBs with concussions and/or broken jaws withing a 20 game span. These hits have also been flagged on coverage teams fr years now. Catching a coaster or lollygagger with an ear shot is no longer allowed. But if any football league consistently calls a penalty on a ball carrier cuz slow motion instant replay detects some helmet to helmet contact, then a RB’s days are numbered. New rules dictate more passing and RBs have already evolved to slot hybrid types in most offenses in Canada and an increasing amount down south. If penalties are called on a downhill run, then essentially the game becomes flag with players in pads.